October 7, 2000: Germany 1 England 0

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THE first of England’s many missed opportunities on Saturday came just before kick-off. Steve Redgrave was sitting high in the Wembley stand when he should have been the guest of honour. Imagine the effect he would have had walking down the line of Germany footballers, gripping their hands in his giant palm, the embodiment of the best that British sport has to offer.

Instead, they chose the Duke of York to press the flesh. Redgrave, Denise Lewis and Audley Harrison, gold medallists all, were confined to the Royal Box until half time, when they took their bow. By then, it